Changes

The notation consists of columns of boxes, read from top to bottom, and right to left, just as in traditional Japanese texts. ''[[Kanji]]'' are used to denote each specific note. For example, when playing the open strings, without any fingering on the neck, the notes (from lowest to highest) are called ''ai, shi, kô'' (合・四・工). As fingering is added, the notes played on the bottom string, known as the ''miijiru'' (女絃), which plays the highest notes, include ''go, roku, shichi,'' and ''hachi'' (五・六・七・八); the middle string, or ''nakajiru'' (中絃), plays ''jô, chû, shaku'' (上・中・尺); and the top string, the ''wuujiru'' (男絃), which plays the lowest notes on the instrument, includes notes designated by the ''kanji'' ''otsu'' and ''rô'' (乙・老).

The notation consists of columns of boxes, read from top to bottom, and right to left, just as in traditional Japanese texts. ''[[Kanji]]'' are used to denote each specific note. For example, when playing the open strings, without any fingering on the neck, the notes (from lowest to highest) are called ''ai, shi, kô'' (合・四・工). As fingering is added, the notes played on the bottom string, known as the ''miijiru'' (女絃), which plays the highest notes, include ''go, roku, shichi,'' and ''hachi'' (五・六・七・八); the middle string, or ''nakajiru'' (中絃), plays ''jô, chû, shaku'' (上・中・尺); and the top string, the ''wuujiru'' (男絃), which plays the lowest notes on the instrument, includes notes designated by the ''kanji'' ''otsu'' and ''rô'' (乙・老).

Most notes are of the same length as one another, one note per box, one note played after one another at a constant tempo; that tempo is indicated near the title of the song, the units of measurement based on the heart-rate of the author of the notation or compilation.

Most notes are of the same length as one another, one note per box. The sanshin is a monophonic instrument, meaning it does not make extensive use of chords, but rather is nearly exclusively played one note at a time, each note played one after another at a constant tempo (albeit sometime with half-notes in-between, called ''kubanchi''); that tempo is indicated near the title of the song, the units of measurement based on the heart-rate of the author of the notation or compilation.

Pieces typically begin with a brief instrumental section of roughly three to 12 notes known as the ''uta-mochi'' (O: ''uta-muchi''), which can be repeated multiple times to serve as a sort of introductory section preceding the vocal section of the piece. When ''uta-sanshin'' is played alone, the ''uta-mochi'' is most typically repeated twice; however, when the sanshin accompanies [[Ryukyu odori|traditional Okinawan dance]], the ''uta-mochi'' may be repeated as many times as is necessary to cover the dancers' entrance onto the stage. Dances typically begin in conjunction with the sanshin player leaving the ''uta-mochi'' and entering into the core, sung, section of the piece.

Pieces typically begin with a brief instrumental section of roughly three to 12 notes known as the ''uta-mochi'' (O: ''uta-muchi''), which can be repeated multiple times to serve as a sort of introductory section preceding the vocal section of the piece. When ''uta-sanshin'' is played alone, the ''uta-mochi'' is most typically repeated twice; however, when the sanshin accompanies [[Ryukyu odori|traditional Okinawan dance]], the ''uta-mochi'' may be repeated as many times as is necessary to cover the dancers' entrance onto the stage. Dances typically begin in conjunction with the sanshin player leaving the ''uta-mochi'' and entering into the core, sung, section of the piece.